Illumination device, in particular in a vehicle

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to an illumination device, in particular in a vehicle, wherein certain areas in the interior ( 10 ) of the vehicle, such as center console ( 20 ), dashboard ( 12 ), and/or side doors ( 16, 17 ), are at least partially covered by real wood elements ( 21  to  26 ). Illumination means are arranged on the underside of the wood elements ( 21  to  26 ) and said wood elements can be used to produce a plurality of differently shaped illuminations ( 30  to  35 ) with a defined orientation in the interior ( 10 ). The wood elements ( 21  to  26 ) have a thickness such that said illumination means are not visible to an occupant when switched off.

The invention relates to an illumination device, in particular in a vehicle according to the preamble to claim 1.

In an interior construction part of a motor vehicle according to publication DE-A-198 35 279, a lining element, made for example of wood, is provided as lining of the interior. In order to illuminate the interior, it is proposed to integrate an electric light element which advantageously extends along the entire lining element and is made in laminar form. It is held here on a support part and can be made in various embodiments. However, this illumination is visible and not especially aesthetic because it also brings about separation of the lining element.

In contrast, the object of the present invention was to improve an illumination device in a vehicle such that it results in an exceptionally aesthetic and discreet effect for the occupants, and the surface regions with the wood elements can also be designed optimally.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by the features of claim 1.

By arranging the illumination means on the underside of the wood elements, a plurality of linear or similar illuminations can be formed in a defined orientation, the wood elements having a thickness such that these illumination means are not visible to an occupant when switched off.

Therefore, very discreet illumination is created in a vehicle for the driver and also for the other occupants which additionally also gives visual accents and can, moreover, be realised by different versions.

In one very advantageous embodiment, these illumination means, in the form of LED lights, are arranged spaced apart from one another such that these lights that can be produced in lines appear without interruption on the upper side of the wood elements. A particularly elegant design is thus produced.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention and further advantages of the latter are described in more detail below by means of the drawings. These show as follows:

FIG. 1 is a partial view of a vehicle interior with an illumination device according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-section of the center console in the vehicle, shown partially in perspective; and FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-section of illumination means according to FIG. 2.

FIG. 1 shows an interior 10 of a vehicle of which the front side with the steering wheel 13 and the dashboard 12 with the display 12′, the center console 20 and, moreover, partially the side doors 16, 17 can be seen. The vehicle is a passenger car. However, this interior could of course also be created in the same way in a bus, a truck or also in a ship or an aircraft.

The illustrated center console 20 in the front part, the dashboard 12 and the side doors 16, 17 of the interior 10 are lined with real wood elements 21 to 26 which form a curved shape and extend here along the center console 20, curving outwards at the front on the dashboard 12 and along the side doors.

According to the invention, an illumination device is provided in the vehicle interior by means of which a plurality of illuminations 30 to 33 that can be produced are formed with a defined orientation by illumination means on the underside of the wood elements 21 to 26 so that elegant décor illumination in the vehicle interior 10 is made possible, the wood elements 21 to 26 having a thickness such that these illumination means are not visible to an occupant when switched off.

These illuminations 30 to 33 are respectively provided at the driver and at the passenger seat and are characterized in that they produce almost continuous linear illumination that extends along the center console 20, in an outward curve at the front on the dashboard 12 and along the side doors 16, 17. In the region of the center console 20, these illuminations 30, 31 run on both sides along the edge of the wood elements 21, 22 along their outer side at the driver and at the passenger seat respectively. At the front, they then pass outwardly into the curved shape on the dashboard 12.

Provided on the center console 20 as well as these edge-side illuminations 30, 31, are two additional, linear illuminations 34, 35 spaced apart from one another, which run approximately parallel to one another and are also assigned both to the driver and to the passenger seat. These illuminations are respectively guided at the front to the outsides of a knob 18.

Furthermore, within the framework of the invention, illuminations respectively facing the driver and the passenger are provided on the center console 20 in the form of control buttons 36, 37 lined up alongside one another. These control buttons 36, 37 are respectively positioned on a wooden strip 21′, 22′ extending along the center console 20 at an angle to the flat wood elements 21, 22 such that said control buttons can be operated manually by the occupant in a comfortable and well visible manner. Furthermore, a switch 14 for switching the engine on and off and a docketing station for a smartphone 15 or the like are also indicated.

On the rear side of the wooden strips 21′, 22′, illumination means and, moreover, push buttons are also positioned at these control buttons 36, 37. By means of finger pressure on the control buttons 36, 37 illuminated on the wooden strips 21′, 22′, the corresponding function, indicated by icons, such as for example the lowering or raising of windows, opening of the tailgate, adjustment of the seat or the backrest etc. can be triggered.

These real wood elements 21 to 26 and wooden strips 21′, 22′ are produced as veneers made of high quality wood with natural grains. In addition, these real wood elements are preferably provided at the top with a layer of glaze so that they are impermeable to liquid. The thicknesses of these wood elements can be between a few tenths of a millimeter to a few millimeters. These thicknesses are chosen such that on the one hand their strength is sufficient and on the other hand this translucency is achieved optimally.

According to FIG. 2, these wood elements 21, 22 and the wooden strips 21′, 22′ on the center console 20 are supported on their rear side on carrier profiles 28, 29 in which these illumination means 31′, 35′, 35″, each comprising a number of LED lights arranged one behind the other, are contained. The LED lights are spaced apart from one another here such that these illuminations, which can be produced in a line, appear without interruption on the upper side of the wood elements 22. In addition, they are advantageously in the form of RGBs so that they can also generate different luminous colours.

FIG. 3 shows in detail an illumination means 35′ which is respectively contained in an elongate housing 39 in order to form the linear illumination and above the latter the wood element 22 in the form of a veneer is provided with a correspondingly translucent thickness. Furthermore, a strip 41 made of a light diffusing material, such as Plexiglas, is preferably disposed beneath the wood element 22, and this additionally guarantees that even illumination is produced over the wood element. Furthermore, a capacitive switch 42 is provided on the housing 39.

The invention is sufficiently displayed by the above exemplary embodiment. However, it could also be illustrated by other variations. Thus, other and different alignments of the illuminations could be provided. Basically any other luminescent illumination means could be used instead of LED lights. 

1. An illumination device, in particular in a vehicle, wherein certain areas in the interior (10), such as the center console (20), the dashboard (12) and/or the side doors (16, 17), are at least partially covered by real wood elements (21 to 26), illumination means (31′, 35′, 35″) being arranged on the underside of the wood elements (21 to 26), said wood elements being able to be used to produce visible illumination in the interior (10), characterised in that a plurality of differently shaped illuminations (30 to 35) with a defined orientation are formed by these illumination means (31′, 35′, 35″) on the underside of the wood elements (21 to 26), the wood elements (21 to 26) having a thickness such that these illumination means (31′, 35′, 35″) are not visible to an occupant when switched off.
 2. The illumination device according to claim 1, characterised in that these illumination means (31′, 35′, 35″) on the rear side of the wood elements (21 to 26) are respectively formed from a number of LED lights arranged one behind the other.
 3. The illumination device according to claim 2, characterised in that these LED lights are arranged spaced apart from one another such that these illuminations (30 to 35) that can be produced in lines appear without interruption on the upper side of the wood elements (21 to 26).
 4. The illumination device according to claim 1, wherein an almost continuous linear illumination (30, 31) that extends along the center console (20), in an outward curve at the front on the dashboard (12) and along the respective side doors (16, 17), can respectively be produced at the driver and at the passenger seat.
 5. The illumination device according to claim 1, further comprising additional, linear illuminations (34, 35) respectively provided on the center console (20) on the driver and the passenger seat parallel to the others on the outer side.
 6. The illumination device according to claim 1, further comprising control buttons (36, 37) equipped with illuminations provided on the rear side of wooden strips (21′, 22′) on the center console (20), at the driver's seat and at the at least one passenger seat respectively, which control buttons can be operated by finger pressure on the wooden strips (21′, 22′).
 7. The illumination device according to claim 6, characterised in that the control buttons (36, 37) are each positioned on the wooden strips (21′, 22′) angled to the side of the flat wood elements such that these control buttons can be operated manually by the occupant in a comfortable and well visible manner.
 8. The illumination device according to claim 1, wherein the wood elements (21 to 26) or the wooden strips (21′, 22′) are made with a thickness of approximately a few tenths of a millimeter to a few millimeters, this thickness being chosen such that on the one hand the strength of the wood elements is sufficient and on the other hand this translucency is achieved optimally.
 9. The illumination device according to claim 1, wherein the illumination means (31′, 35′, 35″) are respectively contained in an elongate housing (39) in order to form the linear illumination, and above the latter the wood element (21 to 26) in the form of a veneer is provided with a correspondingly translucent thickness.
 10. The illumination device according to claim 9, characterised in that in the illumination means (31′, 35′, 35″) at least one strip (41) made of a light diffusing material, such as Plexiglas, is respectively disposed beneath the respective wood element (21 to 26), and this additionally guarantees that even illumination is produced over the wood element. 